Somehow, it seems those who complain about the gays the most always seem to get caught up in gay sexual affairs. This one, however, is a pretty big deal in the evangelical world. (via Aravosis)
A gay man and admitted male escort claims he has had an ongoing sexual relationship with a well-known Evangelical pastor from Colorado Springs.
Mike Jones told 9 Wants to Know Investigative Reporter Paula Woodward he has had a “sexual business” relationship with Pastor Ted Haggard for the past three years.
Haggard is the founder and senior leader of the New Life Church in Colorado Springs. The church has 14,000 members. He is also president of the National Association of Evangelicals, an organization that represents millions of people.
Haggard is married with five children and an outspoken critic of gay marriage.
To be sure, Haggard vehemently denies the accusations. “I did not have a homosexual relationship with a man in Denver,” Haggard told a reporter last night. “I am steady with my wife. I’m faithful to my wife.” For that matter, I haven’t seen any evidence of a relationship, though Jones says he has “recorded voicemails and a letter from Haggard, and that he had also witnessed Haggard use methamphetamine.”
Haggard’s name may not be as familiar as Falwell or Robertson, but in evangelical circles, Haggard is a powerhouse. It’s worth noting, however, that if this scandal brings him down, this isn’t necessarily a good thing.
Haggard was listed by Time magazine as one of the 25 most influential Evangelicals in America last year, and this is one of a handful of religious leaders with immediate access to the Bush White House. Harper’s recently wrote, “No pastor in America holds more sway over the political direction of evangelicalism than does Pastor Ted.”
So, is this a time for some schadenfreude? Not really. It’s true that Haggard was vehemently anti-gay, and if he did engage in a gay affair, it causes the evangelical movement some additional embarrassment.
But it’s also worth remembering that in a broad movement, Haggard was occasionally a voice of reason. Over the summer, for example, when there was a growing debate about the American use of torture on suspected terrorists, Haggard stepped up to sign a joint statement that said torture “violates the basic dignity of the human person” and “contradicts our nation’s most cherished values.” The statement added, “Nothing less is at stake in the torture abuse crisis than the soul of our nation. What does it signify if torture is condemned in word but allowed in deed?”
Moreover, Haggard’s National Association of Evangelicals was one of a handful of Christian groups to show some leadership in dealing with global warming, and pressured the Bush administration to change its position.
For that matter, when Pat Robertson called for Hugo Chavez’s assassination, Haggard also told a reporter, “Pat doesn’t speak for evangelicals any more than Dr. Phil speaks for mental health professionals.”
I guess my point is, if a major evangelical leader was going to get caught in a gay sex scandal, I would have preferred it to be James Dobson instead of Ted Haggard.